I was looking over the pens schedule and noticed that in a week the schedule gets pretty light.

*12/4/2008 @ Hurricanes

*12/6/2008 @ Senators

*12/8/2008 Sabres

*12/10/2008 @Devils

*12/11/2008 Islanders

*12/13/2008 @Flyers

*12/18/2008 @Thrashers

*12/ 20/2008 Maple Leafs

*12/22/2008 @Sabres

*12/23/2008 Lightning

*12/26/2008 @ Devils

Right after we play the Rangers at MSG on the 3rd, it looks as if the pens have a pretty easy 11 game stretch. I understand that this is the NHL and any team can win on any given night, also that teams can get hot, but I can’t think of a better stretch of games to have 3 back to back ones in. Of the teams we play only the Devils (12-7-2; 6-4-0) and Flyers (11-6-4; 7-2-1) have won more than half of their games played and more than half of their last 10. The rest of the teams have loosing records both overall and in the last 10 (with the exception of Atlanta which is 6-4-0 in the last 10). What a great stretch of games to have so many sandwiched in on. Hopefully we can pick up a lot of points in the next 3 weeks.

However, can't even imagine overlooking any of those games. Especially with how tough the Islanders have played us so far thru 2 games. And on paper, they are basically a minor league team. Each game is going to be tough, but as you said, hopefully we can continue to solidify ourselves as the beast of the east through the coming weeks.

All of those teams are capable of putting a good game together. Hopefully the Pens learn to play a 60 minute game during the stretch (65 min if necessary). They can't expect each game to go like last night.